City Map Compare/Karachi vs Rio de Janeiro
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5 km
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Karachi

3,527 km²

Rio de Janeiro

1,221 km²

Karachi vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Karachi vs Rio de Janeiro - City Size Comparison

Karachi

Pakistan

Area3,527 km²
Population14.91M
Density4,227 /km²
Elevation8 m
Founded1729
Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Area1,221 km²
Population6.75M
Density5,528 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.13.5M
Founded1565
Climatetropical savanna

Area Comparison

Karachi is 2.9x larger than Rio de Janeiro

Population Comparison

Karachi has 2.2x more people than Rio de Janeiro

Is Karachi Bigger Than Rio de Janeiro?

Karachi is significantly larger, covering 2.9 times the area of Rio de Janeiro. Karachi spans 3,527 km² (1,362 mi²) while Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km² (471 mi²) — a difference of 2,306 km². You could fit Rio de Janeiro inside Karachi approximately 2 times.

To put Karachi's size in perspective, its area of 3,527 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro at 1,221 km² is about 1.3x smaller than London.

In more relatable units, Karachi's 3,527 km² is about 494,000 American football fields, 60 times the area of Manhattan, or 33 times the area of Paris. Rio de Janeiro, by comparison, equals about 171,000 American football fields, 21 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris.

About Karachi

Karachi is the capital city of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the largest city in Pakistan and 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast and formerly served as the country's capital from 1947 to 1959. Ranked as a beta-global city, it is Pakistan's premier industrial and financial centre, with an estimated GDP of over $200 billion (PPP) as of 2021.

Known as "City of Lights", Karachi covers 3,527 km² with a population of 14.9 million. The city was established in 1729. Karachi is known for Port of Karachi, Mazar-e-Quaid mausoleum, Clifton Beach, among other attractions.

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city and the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million.

About Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.

Nicknamed "Cidade Maravilhosa", Rio de Janeiro has an area of 1,221 km² and is home to 6.8 million people. It was established in 1565. Visitors come for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MetrôRio.

Rio de Janeiro is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous in the Americas.

Population Density

Karachi has a population density of 4,227 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rio de Janeiro, with 5,528 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Rio de Janeiro is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Rio de Janeiro fits inside Karachi ~2 times

Density Gap

Rio de Janeiro is 1.3x more densely populated

History

Rio de Janeiro is ~164 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Karachi

Karachi covers 3,527 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hanoi (3,359 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), or Moscow (2,511 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro covers 1,221 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include San Antonio (1,209 km²), Lagos (1,172 km²), Rome (1,285 km²), Los Angeles (1,302 km²), or Hong Kong (1,114 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Karachi actually bigger than Rio de Janeiro?
Karachi is 2.9 times larger than Rio de Janeiro by area. Karachi covers 3,527 km² while Rio de Janeiro spans 1,221 km², a difference of 2,306 km².
How many times does Rio de Janeiro fit inside Karachi?
Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²) fits inside Karachi (3,527 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Karachi is 2.9x the area of Rio de Janeiro.
What is the population difference between Karachi and Rio de Janeiro?
Karachi has approximately 14.9 million people, while Rio de Janeiro has about 6.8 million. Karachi has 8.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Karachi or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is more densely populated with 5,528 people per km², compared to 4,227 people per km².
Which city is older, Karachi or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is older, founded around 1565, while Karachi was established around 1729 — a difference of about 164 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Karachi and Rio de Janeiro

The straight-line distance from Karachi to Rio de Janeiro is 12,996 km (8,075 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~15h 47m.

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